This Sunday the roads of the county will see a very interesting sight when a fundrasing truck run kicks off in Ballina, and will make stops in Foxford, Castlebar, Westport, before ending up in Newport.
The truck run is being orgainised to raise funds for a man who was involved in a horrific crash on the N5 between Swinford and Charlestown. He was a seasoned HGV driver who was on his way home after a hard day's work. After the accident he was in an induced coma and on a ventilator in Galway University Hospital, where his life hung in the balance. He suffered massive injuries to all of his limbs head and torso. However his legs suffered catastrophic injuries. This has left him using a wheelchair and other aids to facilitate his future battle to walk. He spent five months in hospital and underwent at least 13 surgical procedures. However he will have a vast amount of surgeries, rehab, and physical therapy to endure in the future. This fundraiser has been set up to help him, his fiancée, and his two young boys with their medical expenses, transportation costs, and day-to-day living expenses.
The truck run will kick off in Ballina Transports yard at 11am. It costs €30 to register a truck, or you can get a sponsorship card to fill out. The trucks will get moving at 12.30pm, following music at the starting point provided by Pat's Country Roadshow. They will travel from Ballina to Foxford, then through the villages of Straide and Ballyvary before their first stop in Castlebar. The run will stop from 1.30pm to 3pm in Hobans Car Park in Castlebar, where there will be more live entertainment and a chance to check out the trucks.
The run will then move on to Westport, before turning off to its final destination in Newport, where it is expected to arrive at 4.30pm. The run will end at Kelly's Garage in Newport where a carnival atmosphere is expected, with more live music and entertainment on offer along with a barbecue. For more information on the run or if you want an sponsorship card log on to www.facebook.com/newporttruckrun
